Feed-regulator for boilers.



No. 688,773. Patented Dec. l0, IQUI.

W. H. EDMDNDSUN. FEED REGULATOR FOB BOILERS. (Application filed Mar. 26, 1900. Renewed July 15, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

( o Model.

Q ff] TJVL %77 No. 688,773. Patented Dec. l0, $90!. W. H. EDMUNDSON. I FEED REGULATOR FOR BOILERS. (Appl ication filed Mar. 26, 1900, Renewed Julyvlfi, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

3 7 //V YEA/TOR S N] T/VESSE will be filled thereby and can only escape back into the boiler through the contracted or substantially capillary opening 12. On this account at each pulsation or stroke of the pump the backward motion of the piston let will be resisted by the presence of liquid in the controlling-chamber ll, and inasmuch as liquid is practically incompressible the pumppressure will be forced to open the waste-valve 19, permitting the supply to be returned to the feed-tank through the return-pipe 20.

In some cases instead of providing the controlling-chamber with a check-valve,as shown in Fig. 2, the controlling-chamber may be provided at its lower side with a second contracted or substantially capillary opening 25, although in' practice I prefer to employ the check-valve construction shown in Fig. 2, as this permits the controlllug-chamber to till promptly when the liquid in the boiler rises above the desired level. In some cases, also, instead of employing a regulator which has to be fastened so as to project inside the boiler a regulator constructed according to this invention maybe constructed so that it may be located at. a considerable distance from the boiler, if desired, and I have illustrated such a construction in Fig. 4;" As shown in this figure, the regulator may consist of a casing 30, having a cont rolling-chamber 31, which is connected to a passage '52 by a capillary or contracted opening 32 and an opening controlled by a check-valve 33. The passage 52 of the regulator is connected to the boiler by pipes and 5l in the same manner that the ordinary water-gage is connectedt-hat is to say, the pipe5l opens into the boiler below the water-level, while the pipe 50 opens into the steam-space of the boiler, so that by means of this construction the regulator maybe located at a distance from the boiler, and the level of the liquid in the passage 52 will correspond with the level of the liquid in the boiler itself. Movably mounted in the casing is a piston 34, carrying a feed-valve 35 for closing the feedpassage 36. 'lhesupply-pipe37from the pump isconnected to the casing 30 below the feedvalve 55. At one side of the piston 34: is a second larger piston 38, carrying a wastevalve 39, which normally closes the connection between the supply-pipe 37 and the return-pipe 40. Boiler-pressure is admitted to the upper end of the piston 38 through an extension 53 of the inlet-passage 36.

The several parts of the form of regulator illustrated in Fig. 4: correspond closely with and perform the same functions as the parts in the regulator illustrated in Fig. 2, so that a detailed description of the operation of this construction is not believed to be necessary.

I am aware that numerous other changes may be made in the construction of my feedregulator for boilers by those who are skilled in the art: Without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims. I am also aware that regulators constructed according to my invention may be applied to boilers of widely-different types and may be used for controlling the feed into a boiler not only of water in the ordinary manner, but also may be used to control the feed of alcohol or other of the more volatile liquids that are sometimes employed in boilers. I do not wish,theret'ore, to belimited either to the form of construction herein shown and described or to the special application of my regulator which I have illustrated; but

\Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a feed-regulator for boilers, the combination of a feed-pipe communicating with the boiler, a waste-pipe, a source of supply communicating with each of said pipes, valves for controlling said pipes, means whereby said valves are normally closed by the boiler-pressure, said valve in the feed-pipe being held closed when the water has reached a predetermined level in the boiler.

2. In a fced-regnlator for boilers, the combination of a feed-pipe, a valve controlling said feed-pipe, a waste-pipe and a valve controlling same, a source of supply communicating with each of said pipes, means whereby said valves controlling the feed and waste pipes are normally closed by the boiler-pressure, said valve controlling the waste-pipe having a larger area exposed to the boilerpressure than the valve in the feed-pipe, whereby greater force is required to openthe valve in the waste-pipe than to open the valve in the feed-pipe, substantially as described.

' In a feed-regulator for boilers, the combination with a feed-pipe communicating with the boiler and a source of supply, a wastepipe communicating with said feed-pipe and the source of supply, a valve in each of said pipes normally closed by the boiler-pressure, said waste-valve having a larger area exposed to the boiler-pressure than the feed-valve, whereby greater force is exerted to hold the waste-valve closed than to hold the feed-valve closed, and separate means for holding said feed-valve closed when the water in the boiler has reached a predetermined level, substantially as described.

4. In a feed-regulator for boilers, the connbination of a controlling -chamber located substantially at the level desired to be maintained in the boiler, a feed-passage opening into the boiler, and a valve for said feed-pas sage, said parts being arranged so that the presence of liquid in the controlling-chamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating supply from opening the feed-valve, substantially as described.

5. In a feed-regulator for boilers, the combination of a controlling-chamber, a feedpassage opening into the boiler, a valve therefor, a return or Waste passage, and a returnvalve, said parts being arranged so that it normally requires more pressure to open the waste-valve than the feed-valve, and so that the presence of liquid in the controlling-chamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating sage, said parts being arranged so that the presence of liquid in the controlling-chamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating supply from opening the feed-valve, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a boiler, a feedpump, and a feed-regulator for the boiler comprisinga feed-valve and a controllingchamber, said parts being arranged so that the presence of liquid in the controlling-chain her will prevent the pump-pressure from opening the feed-valve,substantially as described.

8. In a feed-regulator for boilers, the combination of a controllingchamber located substantially at the level desired to be maintained in the boiler, and having a contracted connection therewith, a feed-passage opening into the boiler, and a valve for said feed-passage having a piston extending into the controlling-chamber, said parts being arranged so that the presence of liquid in the controlling-chamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating supply from opening the feedvalve, substantially as described.

9. In a feed-regulator for boilers, the combination of a controlling-chamber, a feedpassage opening into the boiler, a valve therefor, a return or Waste passage, and a returnvalve, said parts being arranged so that the boiler-pressure will normally exert a greater force tending to hold the waste-valve closed than to hold the feed-valve closed, and so that the presence of liquid in the controllingchamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating supply from opening the feed-valve, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a boiler, a feedtank, a pump, and a feed-regulator comprising a controlling-chamber, a feed-valve located in the passage from the pump to the boiler, and a waste-valve located in a passage leading back to the feed-tank, said parts bein g arranged so that it normally requires more pressure to open the waste-valve than the feed-valve, and so that the presence of liquid in the controlling-chamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating supply from opening the feed-valve, substantially as described.

11. In a feed-regulator for boilers, the combination of a casing having a controllingehainber with a contracted connection with the boiler-space, a piston movably mounted in the casing, and operating the feed-valve, and a piston of larger area movably mounted in the casing and operating the waste-valve, said parts being connected so that boilerpressure will act directly on the waste-valve piston, and will act on the feed-valve piston through the controlling-chamber, wherebyit will normally require more pressure to open the waste-valve than the feed-Valve, and so that the presence of liquid in the controllingchamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating supply from opening the feed-valve, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a boiler, and a feedregulator comprising a casing 10 having a controlling-chamber extending into the boilerspace, and having a contracted connection therewith, a piston 14 movable into the controlling-chamber, and carrying a feed-valve 15, and a larger piston 18 carrying a Wastevalve 19, boiler-pressure being admitted to the outer end of the casing to act directly 011 the piston 18, whereby it normally requires more pressure to open the waste-valve than the feed-valve, and whereby the presence of liquid in the controlling-chamber will prevent the pressure of a pulsating supply from opening the feed-valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. EDMONDSON.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK B. MARLow, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

